Tentering-machine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

- B. AINSWORTH.

TENTBRING MACHINE.

No. 569,734. Patent ed 001;. 20, 1896.

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7 [NYE/V705 W (Nb Model.) 2 sheets-Sheet 2.

E. AINSWORTH. TENTERING MAGHINE.

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N u /w INVENTOR:

UNITED STATES PATENT @EETQE.

ll. YV. BUlTERlVORTH & SONS COMPANY, OF PENNSYLVANIA.

TENTERlNG-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,734, dated October 20, 1896. Application filed June 21, 1895. fierial No. 553,592. No model.)

1'0 aZZ whont it may con-corn.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN AINsWonTH, of the city of Wilmington, county of New Castle, State of Delaware, have invented an Improvement in Tentering-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

lily invention has reference to tentering-machines for treating textile fabrics; and it consists of certain improvements which are fully set forth in the following specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof.

Heretofore tentering-machines have been made with two endless conveyors of pins or clamps combined with mechanism for reciprocating said conveyors bodily simultaneously in opposite directions, and at the same time moving them toward or from each other, so as to stretch the fabric on the diagonal while feeding it forward.

My invention relates to improvements on this class of machines and comprehends certain features of construction specially designed with the object of reducing the space required for the operation of the machine and increasing its facility of operation, and more particularly to make the movements of the feeding devices uniform,whereby the forward feeding of the fabric is the same for each. reciprocation of the longitudinal guides.

In carrying out my improvements I an range a transverse power-shaft substantially parallel to the driving-shaft for the endless chain or conveyors and connect the two shafts with suitable gearing or powcutransmitting connections which act immediately above the pivot or in the axis of oscillation of the oscillating driving-shaft, so that the oscillations thereof do not modify the action of the powertransmittcr, and hence permit it at all times to rotate the driving-shaft of the conveyors at a uniform and constant speed. The result of these improvements enables the fabric to be treated more uniformly and permits a more rapid working of the machine withoutimpairing the fineness of the fabric.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a side elevation of a tenteringmachine embodying my invention, but with alarge portion of its length broken away. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of same on line of Fig. 1 with the conveying-chains shown in position and holding the fabric. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line y y of Fig. 1, and Fig. i is a side elevation of a modified form of power-transmitting devices.

A A are longitudinal side frames having chain-guides 0 formed thereon in any suit- 66 able manner. These frames are supported upon the vertical pivots (L f, there being a large number of the pivots a in practice arranged at intervals apart and varying in nu n1- ber according to the length of the machine. The pivots a are adjustable to or from each other by a right and left hand screw-threaded shaft 1), the said adjustment being intended to suit fabrics of different widths. The pivots move with a frame B, pivoted upon a ver- 70 tical axle at ll, the journal of said axle being formed in a pedestal Bflrestin g upon the floor.

By employment of these devices any longitudinal movement to one of the frames A iniparts an opposite longitudinal movement to the other frame. It will also be seen that as these frames reciprocate they also approach and recede from each other. Each of the frames is provided with downwardly-extending arms which carry at their lower ends grooved guides C. Chains E, provided with a series of clamps or pins or other suitable means for holding and conveying the fabric, are arranged to travel in the guides G O of these side frames. The said chains are guided at one end of the machine over the guide-wheels N and at the other end over the guide sprocket-wheels D,which latter are also provided with gears d, by which they are driven. These several guide-wheels are half 0 carried with one of the frames A and the remaining half are carried with the other frame,

so that they move independently.

The clamps shown are adapted to clamp the edge of the fabric S by the usual spring 5 action and are provided with upwardly-extending portions arranged to come into contact with the cams ill M" upon the frames A. The cams M M are so shaped as to open the clamps and enablethem to be brought into position relatively to the edges of the fabric, so that when-they are released the springs will snap them down upon the fabric to hold it. The fabric is fed between the two rollers M at one end of the machine adjacent to the cams M, the said rollers being supported in bearings m having vertical pivots, so as not to interfere with the reciprocating motion of the frames A. After the fabric has been received by the clamps it is fed along the machine until the clamps reach the cams M at the opposite end of the machine. These cams operate upon the upwardly-projecting portions of the clamps and cause them to open to release the fabric, which is then guided upwardly from under a roller m of similar construction to the rollers M G is a transverse driving-shaft adjacent to the sprocket-wheels D and carries the pinions D, which mesh with the gears (Z upon the wheels I), and by which the latter receive their motion. These pinions are clearly shown in Fig. 2. The shaft G is journaled in sliding bearings g at each end, which bearings rest upon curved guide-pedestals G to insure the said shaft remaining horizontal and to cause it to move with a steady action. The shaft is also journaled in a frame P, having a vertical axis about which it oscillates, and whiigh frame is supported by a fixed pedestal Secured to the shaft G, immediately above the pivot-point P is a spur-wheel L. Substantially parallel to the shaft G is a transverse power-shaft 7c, journaled in suitable bearings and provided with a belt-wheel K. It may be driven by any suitable means. This power-shaft passes through a longitudinal aperture 19 in the frame P. Above the pivot P is a pinion L which is loosely supported upon the shaft 7t, and this pinion meshes with intermediate gear L, carried by the frame P and adapted to transmit the power from the pinion L to the spur-wheel L. The spur-Wheel L and intermediate gear L oscillate with the frame P and drivingshaft G, whereas the pinion L does notoscilla-te, but may be rotated. To permit the oscillation of the gear. L upon the pinion, I prefer to make the teeth of the pinion curved, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to avoid binding or excessive friction. The pinion L may be connected with the shaft 7o by a clutch 0, so that it rotates or not with the shaft 70, according tothe position of the clutch. .Vhen it is desired that the feeding of the fabric shall stop, the clutch 0 may be thrown out of action, and in that case the power-shaft will not rotate the pinion. It will be observed that the gear or power-transmitting devices between the power-shaft 7t and driving-shaft G are arranged directly above the pivot-point about which the driving-shaft oscillates, and for this reason prevents any lost motion in the transmitting devices during the oscillation. In the structures as heretofore made there was a considerable irregularity or defeet, it being such that upon one half of the oscillatory motion the speed of the gearing was increased above the normal, while in the other part of the oscillatory motion the speed was retarded. By my improvement this defeet is entirely overcome, and the feeding action of the fabric S is uniform under all conditions.

The power-shaft k, by means of beveled gears R, drives a longitudinal shaft j, which, by means of bevel-gears R, shaft 0', bevelgears I, and a vertical shaft 2', rotates a crankhead I-I, provided with crank pin 72. The crank-pin operates in a slot in the free end of the arm or frame F. The said arm F is journaled upon the shaft G in such a manner that any lateral rocking of the arm F will cause a corresponding horizontal oscillation of the shaft G.

The shaft G is also provided with frames F, which contain the pinions D and insure their proper lateral adjustment, and also carries the vertical pivots f, through which the reciprocating longitudinal movement is imparted to the side frames. By rocking the arm F horizontally it is evident that the shaft G will, through the frames F and the pivots f, cause one of the longitudinal frames A to be moved in one direction simultaneously with the movement of the other frame in the opposite direction, and vice versa. The extent of this movement will vary with a given crankthrow with every increase of the distance be tween the two side frames A A. It is also evident that by the proper adjustment of this crank any degree of relative reciprocating motion may be secured that is desired to suit the fabrics under treatment.

The operation of the machine in acting upon the fabric is such that the fabric is being almost constantly pulled on the diagonal first in one direction and then in the other, and at the same time being stretched and loosened laterally to give an elastic finish. The operation which thus takes place during the drying of the fabric imparts, in addition'to a diagonal stretching action, an elastic finish, that is technically termed tentering. In machines of this class great trouble has been experienced from the excessive width of the machines and consequent great floor-space which was necessary. By my improvements I have condensed the apparatus to the smallest space possible with uniformity of speed action.

In place of using spur-gearing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I may employ sprocket and chain gearing between the shaft-s k and G, as shown in Fig. 4. In this case the sprocketpinion Q drives the sprocket-wheel Q on the driving-shaft G by means of a sprocket-chain 1. Any looseness of the chain may be taken up by means of a take-up roller Q carried in the frame P. In this construction ordinary flexibility of the sprocket-chain will permit of the oscillation of the frame P and its sprocketframe Q, while the sprocket-pinion Q remains IIO in the same place. Other forms of powertransmitting devices maybe employed in lieu of those herein described.

I do not confine myself to the more details of construction, as they may be modified in various ways without departing from the principles of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two longitudinal reciprocating frames each provided with conveying devices for holding and stretching the fabric arranged between them, supports arranged at intervals for said longitudinal frames whereby they are permitted to reciprocate and at the same time to move to or from each other, sprocket-wheels for operating the conveyers carried upon their respective frames, a transverse drivingshaft and gearing for operating the sprocketwheels, a vertical pivot or axis for the trans verse driving-shaft arranged intermediate of the two longitudinal frames, power devices for oscillating the said transverse drivingshaft on its pivot, a transverse power-shaft arranged transversely to the pivot of the drivin g-shaft, and connecting power-transmitting devices between the power shaft and the transverse driving-shaft immediately in line with the vertical axis or pivot about which the transverse driving-shaft oscillates.

2. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two longitudinal reciprocating frames each provided with conveying devices for holding and stretching the fabric arranged between them, supports arranged at intervals for said longitudinal frames whereby they are permitted to reciprocate and at the same time to move to or from each other, sprocket-wheels for operating the conveyers carried upon their respective frames, a transverse drivingshaft and gearing for operating the sprocketwheels, a vertical pivot or axis for the transverse driving-shaft arranged intermediate of the two longitudinal frames, power devices for oscillating the said transverse drivingshaft upon its pivot, a transverse power-shaft arranged transversely to the pivot of the transverse driving shaft, and connecting power transmitting devices consisting of spur-gearing between the power-shaft and the transverse driving-shaft immediately in line with the vertical axis or pivot about which the driving-shaft oscillates.

In a tentering-machine, the combination of two longitudinal reciprocating frames each provided with conveying devices for holding and stretching the fabric arranged between them, supports arranged at intervals for said longitudinal frames whereby they are permitted to reciprocate and at the same time to move to or from each other, sprocket-wheels for operating the conveyers carried upon their respective frames, a transverse d rivingshaft and gearing for operating the sprocketwheels, a vertical pivot or axis for the transverse driving-shaft arranged intermediate of the two longitudinal frames, power devices for oscillating the said transverse driving shaft upon its pivot, a transverse power-shaft arranged transversely to the pivot of the driving-shaft, connecting p0wer'transinitting devices bctween the power-shaft and the transverse driving-shaft immediately in line with the vertical axis or pivot of the transverse driving-shaft about which it oscillates, and clutch devices for throwing the power-transmitting devices into or out of operation.

at. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two longitudinal reciprocating frames each provided with conveying devices for holding and stretching the fabric arranged between them, supports arranged atintervals for said longitudinal frames whereby they are permitted to reciprocate and at the same time to move to or from each other, sprocket-wheels for operating the conveyers carried upon their respective frames, a driving-shaft and gearing for operating the sprocket-wheels, a vertical pivot or axis for the transverse driving shaft arranged intermediate of the two iongitudinal frames, power devices for oscillating the said driving-shaft upon its pivot, a transverse power-shaft arranged transversely to the pivot of a transverse driving-shaft, connecting power-transmitting devices consisting of spur-gearing between the powershaft and the driving-shaft immediately in line with the vertical axis or pivot of the driving-shaft about which it oscillates, and a clutch for connecting the gearing with the power-shaft.

5. In a tentering-machine, the combination of two side guides, supports therefor to enable them to be reciprocated simultaneously in opposite directions, conveying devices carried upon the said frames for conveying the fabric through the machine while being treated, oscillating devices for oscillating the said frames in opposite directions, a transverse driving-shaft for operating the conveyin g devices adapted to oscillate to correspond with the reciprocation of the side guides, a transverse power-shaft arranged transversely to the axis of oscillation of the driving-shaft, and power-transinitting connections between the driving-shaft and power-shaft in the line of the axis of oscillation of the said drivingshaft.

6. In a neutering-machine, the combination of two side guides and the supports therefor to enable them to be reciprocated in opposite directions, conveying devices carried upon said guides, an oscillating rotary drivingshaft for operating the conveying devices, a supportingframe having a vertical axis in which said driving-shaft is journaled movably supported so as to move on a vertical axis, a transverse power-shaft supported in fixed bearings, power-transmitting connections between the powenshaft and oscillating driving-shaft within the sii1 )porting-frame tween the power-shaft and oscillating drivin g-shaft Within the supporting-frame and in1- nicdiately in the line of the vertical axis, power devices for oscillating the said oscillating driving-shaft, and clutch devices for throwing the power-transmitting devices into or out of action with the power-shaft.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

EDlVIN AlNSlVORTH. \Vit'nesscs:

WILBUR L. SASSE, ALFRED S. HENLOCK. 

